Frame for motor-vehicles.



Patented Aug. l5, |899.

H. F. EASTMAN.

FRAME Flllliv MOTUR VEHICLES.

3 Sheets Sheet No Medel.)

Patented Aug. I5, [899.

H. F. EASTMAN-' FRAME FOB MOTOR VEHICLES.

(Application med Nov. 28, 1898.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.A

(Hu Model.)

rn: nonmx PETERS co., wcrmLrmoJwAsHwu-rou. n. c.

Patented Aug. I5, |899, H. F. ASTMAN.

FRAME FDR MOTOR VEHICLES.

(Application led Nov. 28, 1898.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3,

(No Model.)

. forms the principal support thereof.

UNrTnn STATES v HENRY F.

EASTMAN, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO M. M. IIOBART, OFSAME PLACE.

FRAME FOR MOTOR-VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 630,976, dated August15, 1899.

Application filed November 28, 1898. Serial No. 697,610. @l0 model-l 1To @ZZ whom, t 11mg/ concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY F. EASTMAN, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Frames for Motor-Vchicles, of which the following is a specification.

The objects of myinvention are to provide a motor-vehicle frame whichshall have the advantages of the maximum strength and rigidity withextreme lightness anda practically indestructible body capable of a highexterior finish, incombustible, and non-conducting of heat, which woulddestroy the exterior finish and be a matter of some discomfort to theriders.

The invention also has some reference to muiitling the sound of themotor mechanism therein and also to quieting the rattling of the partsof the frame on one another.

My invention is exemplified in the accompanying drawings, as hereinafterdescribed, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation ofthe device.Fig. 2 is a hori- Zontal section showing plan of interior and exteriorconstruction. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section online :n fr,Fig. 2. Fig. iis a transverse section of a corner of frame and siding,and Fig. 5 is a transverse section of gooseneclr connecting the body ofthe device with the stein of the front fork.

In the views, l is the vbody portion of the vehicle, which is seen to beinclosed by bicycle-tubing,by which it is outlined and which This bodyportion is shaped somewhat like the body of a cabriolet and is narrowedin front to form a goosenecl; connection 2 with the front stem 3, inwhich is inserted the front fork of a tricycle. It will be seen that thetubing is braced by cross-bars 4 4: at the bottom and 5 5 at the top,and a triangular formation of connecting-bars at 6 in front completes atruss to stiften the gooseneck.

To further stien the frame and to provide means for attaching removableside plates T, angle-bars 7 are attached to the tubing Within the bodyof the vehicle, the Wider ange or tongue of the T-iron being brazed orwelded thereto, so that the cross-bar projects within the body.

The detachable sidingis constructed to accomplish the double use ofsound-muffler and insulator to preventthe heat of the engine fromreaching the exterior of the vehicle. This siding consists in a sheet ofasbestos S, upon either side of which are placed the reinforcing metalplates 9. Rivets or bolts 10 serve to retain the parts closely together.The siding is seen to be secured between the tubular frame and thecross-flanges of the T-irons, and bolts ll may pass through them to holdthem rigidly together. The exact shape of the T' or angle irons isimmaterial to the invention; but, as shown, the crossanges are placed atan angle of about one hundred and thirtyve degrees to the wider flangefor convenience in securing the parts together.

A central partition 13 separates the body of the vehicle into twochambers, one, A, for the engine, and a separate one, B, in which thecombustible-fluid tank is placed Where the heat from the motor will notaiect it.

The bottom of the chamber in which the motor is placed is open andprovided with a double netting lt to give plenty of ventilation to themotor. The rear extremity is also open and protected by netting at l5,thus affording free circulation for air throughout the chamber.

The front portion of the frame is mounted upon the fork 16 and singlebicycle-Wheel, While the single handle-bar 17 serves t0 guide thevehicle.

The body of the vehicle rests upon the side springs 18, which bear upona sleeve 19 upon the axle, and swings freely upon the transverse shaft20, which is connected with the rear` axle by means of hounds 2,1,pivoted upon the axle and transverse shaft'. The body of the vehicleprojects slightly downward from the rear to give more room for the feetin front and to raise the rear above the axle.

I do not claim as this invention the exact form of motor or drivingmechanism nor the exact shape of any of the parts; but

IOO

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a motorvehicle frame, a metallic body portion in combination witha rigidlytrussed front portion terminating in a stem for a front-Wheelfork, substantially as described.

2. In a frame for a motor-vehicle, steel tubing supporting the bodyportion, the said tubing being extended to form a gooseneck connectionwith a single front-fork stem, and removable siding for said frame,substantially as described.

3. In a motor-vehicle, a frame composed of steel tubing out-lining thebody portion, and extending forwardto form a gooseneck connection withthe front-fork stem, in combination with detachable siding for the bodyportion, the said siding being partly composed of insulating andincombustible material, substantially as described.

et. In a motor-vehicle,-the combination with a body portion outlined inweldless tubing, of a front stem, and a gooseneck connection therewithextending in continuous lines of tubing from said body portion, and atruss formation in said gooseneck, substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

5. In a motor-vehicle frame, in combination, a body portion formed frommetal tubing, in upper and lower portions following the outline ofthesaid body portion, a front stem, gooseneck-shaped7 continuations of saidbody portion connecting the same with said stern, and sections of tubingconnecting the u pperandlower members of the gooseneck77 to form a trussoftriangular section, substantially as described.

6. In a motor-vehicle frame, in combination, a body portion formed ofmetal tubing and reinforcing angle-bars secured longitudinally to saidtubing, substantially as described.

7. In a motor-vehicle frame, in combina tion, body and front gooseneckportions formed by continuous metal tubing outlining the same,cross-braces forming a truss in the gooseneck portion, and cross-barsconnecting the tubing in the frame, substan tially as described.

8. In a frame for a motor-vehicle in combination, rigid body andgooseneck portions composed of metal tubing, reinforcing anglebarssecured longitudinally to the'tubing of said body portion, anddetachable insulating siding and covering plates for said body portion,substantially as described.

9. In the body of a motor-vehicle, in combination, a tubular metalframe, and an'insulating siding and covering therefor, con` sist-i ng ofasbestos plate'sfreinforced by Inetal plates on either sidesubstantially as described.

l0. Means for covering the bodyof a motor- Vehicle consisting of platesof insulating and incoinbustible material, in combination withreinforcing metal plates upon either side thereof, substantially asdescribed.

ll. In a motor-vehicle, in combination, a frame composed of body andgooseneck portions formed of continuous metal tubing, an insulatingcovering for said body portion, an insulating partition in said bodyportion, and means for mounting said body and gooseneck portions uponthe front-fork stem and rear axle, substantially as described.

Signed by ine at Cleveland, Ohio, this 15th day of November, A. D. 1898.

. HENRY F. EASTMAN. lVitnesses:

WM. INI. MONROE, JOHN H. BEER.

